Age Means Nothing

Gloria Gaynor reappears in Houston as the Summer National Senior Games igniteDiscovery Green

Designed by Ward and Ames Special Events, the cauldron draws its form from theshooting stars that encircle the 2011 Senior Games logo. The six-foot-wide,25-foot-tall bowl was engineered by Haynes Whaley Associates, Inc. and built ofpowder-coated steel by the Fretz Construction Company.
Photo by Adolfo Chavez III
Gloria Gaynor peformed "I Will Survive"
Photo by Adolfo Chavez III
Harry Pepper holds the torch above his head.
Photo by Adolfo Chavez III
Harry Pepper and Kay Glenn come into the park with the torch.
Photo by Adolfo Chavez III
Harry Pepper and Kay Glenn exult after lighting the cauldron to herald the startof the Senior Games.
Photo by Adolfo Chavez III
Spokane Sparx (women softball team ages 50 - 54): Gary McGlasson (coach), left,Colleen Dewitt, Marcia Bertholf, Rebecca Nielsen. They won the bronze medal inthe last Senior Games.
Photo by Adolfo Chavez III
Senior athletes, from left, Debbie Trebotich (basketball, horseshoe andbadminton); Majorie Webb (basketball and badminton); Emma "Scottie" Scott(badminton).
Photo by Adolfo Chavez III
Ezra Charles also performed at the caldron lighting ceremony.
Photo by Adolfo Chavez III
Bowling team, from left, Margie Kegerreis, Rose Roylo, Beverly Moss, GwenCarlson, Bill Kegerreis
Photo by Adolfo Chavez III
Gloria Gaynor got the crowd to sing along.
Photo by Adolfo Chavez III
An oversized screen televised the action.
Photo by Adolfo Chavez III
The crowd began gathering before dark.
Photo by Adolfo Chavez III
Harry Pepper, Peggy McClure
photo by Adolfo Chavez III
The cauldron will be given to the city of Houston after the Senior Games endJune 30.
Photo by Adolfo Chavez III

The city's sports community came out in full force on Thursday evening for the arrival of the 2011 Summer National Senior Games' torch at Discovery Green. The spirited ceremony boasted a cameo by Gloria Gaynor, who applauded the participants, saying, "I want to commend all the athletes. We have to lead by example to show younger generations the importance of health." The diva is an avid supporter of medical initiatives, including the American Diabetes Association and Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation. After developing osteoarthritis of the knee, she worked with Ferring Pharmaceuticals Inc. to produce a slew of exercise videos entitled, "W.A.K.E. Up & Flex."

During a "howdy partner" address by Dana Brown, chair of the games' Board of Directors, the flame was likened to the passion of the participating athletes.

Two of those athletes, Harry Pepper and Kay Glynn, stole the show. A baseball and football player in high school, 100-year-old Pepper has biked and bowled his way to the top of the Senior Games. A bonafide bowler since 1939, he boasts a high score of 220. His tip? Aim for the head pin.

Helping Pepper carry the torch to completion was Glynn, 58, who has competed since age 51, amassing medals in track and field, pole vault and high jump. Glynn and Pepper's display of athletic ferocity was followed by a post-torch-lighting fireworks extravaganza that would put any Fourth of July celebration to shame.

The torch relay launched on June 8 at the Johnson Space Center, with Apollo 7 astronaut Walt Cunningham carrying the torch on its journey across Texas. Before its Discovery Green entrance, the torch whizzed by the USS Lexington in Corpus Christi under the watchful gaze of retired USS Lexington captain and Senior Games athlete F.W. "Rocco" Montesano. After that, the torch was passed along San Antonio's Riverwalk and Alamo, Lady Bird Lake in Austin and the Dallas Cowboys Stadium.

Back in East Texas, the flame touched down at the George Bush Presidential Library on the west campus of Texas A&M University as the Games' honorary chairs, George and Barbara Bush, watched. Following a stop at the Spindletop Gladys Boomtown Museum in Beaumont, the torch traveled across the bay to Moody Gardens in Galveston.

The flame's final destination was a cauldron at the center of Discovery Green. Designed by Ward and Ames Special Events, the cauldron draws its form from the shooting stars that encircle the 2011 Senior Games logo. The six-foot-wide, 25-foot-tall bowl was engineered by Haynes Whaley Associates, Inc. and built of powder-coated steel by the Fretz Construction Company. After the Games' final relay, the structure will be donated to the City of Houston.

The original Olympic tradition of carrying the torch commemorates the theft of fire from the Greek gods. For the next two weeks, nearly 9,000 seniors from across America will prove that they've still got a fire inside.

Click here to learn more about the events associated with the Senior Games.

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VIP HOUR

Hang out with 2 Houston sports legends at CultureMap’s Tailgate event

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Ryan Pressly pitched for the Houston Astros beginning in 2018.

CultureMap is gearing up for The Tailgate, the can’t-miss game day bash of the season, landing Thursday, September 11, at 8th Wonder in EaDo.

Go VIP to unlock early entry, a private bar, and the ultimate fan experience: an exclusive meet-and-greet with two legendary Texas athletes: former Houston Texans tight end Owen Daniels and two-time All-Star Houston Astros pitcher Ryan Pressly.

Drafted by the Texans in 2006, Daniels played for the team through 2013 before going to the Baltimore Ravens and Denver Broncos. While with the Broncos, he helped the team win Super Bowl 50 over the Carolina Panthers.

Fun fact: Daniels earned the nickname "The Weatherman" in college, at the University of Wisconsin, as he majored in meteorology and appeared on the Madison-area news delivering the local forecast

Dallas native Ryan Pressly made his Major League Baseball debut in 2013 with the Minnesota Twins. In 2018, he was traded to the Houston Astros, where each season he contributed in the postseason, including in six consecutive American League Championship Series and three World Series.

In Game 4 of the 2022 World Series, Pressly became the first MLB relief pitcher to contribute to two combined no-hitters, and just the second pitcher overall. His 14 postseason saves rank fifth in MLB history.

Attendees of The Tailgate will enjoy a range of experiences showcasing local sports and local food. Nearly two dozen restaurants will be serving game day-inspired bites, including BB's Tex-Orleans, The Waffle Bus, Loro, Pizaro’s Pizza, Crawfish Cafe, and La Calle Tacos.

Speaking of tacos, don't forget to vote here for your favorites in our bracket-style Top Taco Tournament; the winner will be announced at the event.

Expect activations and appearances from your favorite Houston teams, including the Texans, Astros, and Dynamo and Dash football clubs.

Lock in $60 VIP tickets, while they last, for the all-access experience and meet-and-greet. General Admission tickets start at $35.

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Ryan Pressly pitched for the Houston Astros beginning in 2018.

Get your tickets now before they sell out, and we’ll see you on September 11.

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The Tailgate is sponsored by FLIGHT by Yuengling, Puttshack, Mizzen+Main, Sysco To Go, Antone's Famous Po' Boys, NXT LVL Events, Patrón Tequila, Teeling Whiskey, St-Germain Elderflower Liqueur, and more to be announced.

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